Cultural Countertransference of Young Clinicians Facing a State of Possession: A Cultural Case Study.
Manon Arminot, Lara Haghiri Ghazvini, Thierry Baubet, Marie Rose Moro, Théo Mouhoud
Culture, medicine and psychiatry February 9, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s11013-026-09976-1 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPossession states present a complex challenge in transcultural psychiatry. When a Somali patient experiencing possession was treated in a transcultural consultation group, young clinicians witnessed a trance and experienced cultural countertransference. Using the Cultural Formulation Interview, the clinicians' countertransference evolved, leading to a deeper understanding of the symptom and improvement in the patient's condition. This case demonstrates the importance of addressing cultural countertransference among young clinicians in transcultural consultations.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A Somali patient with possession states |
| Intervention | Cultural Formulation Interview |
| Keywords | Countertransference Diagnosis errors Somalia Spirit possession Transcultural psychiatry |
| Key finding | Addressing cultural countertransference in young clinicians, using the Cultural Formulation Interview, can improve understanding of possession symptoms and patient outcomes. |
Abstract
Possession states are a well-known but a complex clinical aspect of transcultural psychiatry. How do young clinicians react when facing such symptoms? Starting from the case of a Somali patient suffering from possession states, treated in a transcultural consultation group, we will attempt to explain the cultural countertransference experienced by young clinicians who witnessed a trance. Using the Cultural Formulation Interview, we observed an evolution of the countertransference, and therefore an evolution of the symptom's understanding and of the patient's condition. This clinical case thus highlights the necessity to take into account the cultural countertransference of young clinicians within the transcultural consultation.